Barbara's Banter

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

Procrastination is the name of the game and I’m very good at it.  I have a myriad of excuses for not doing what I know I need to do, and they have served me well.  Here are a few…

“I’ll wait until I’m in the mood.”  Being “genderly” prone to mood swings, I use this for my advantage.

“I’ll do it tomorrow.”  Known as the “mañana syndrome,” I believe in never doing today what I can put off until tomorrow.

“I’ll do it tomorrow if….”  Known as the “contingent mañana syndrome,” this allows me to put a stipulation on whether or not I actually will do it tomorrow.  For example: “I’ll do it tomorrow if the sun is shining” or “I’ll do it tomorrow if it is raining” or “I’ll do it tomorrow if half my street has sunshine and the other half has rain.”

“I work better under pressure.”  This really is a half truth.  I will work under pressure, but I won’t work better under pressure.

“I don’t know where to begin.”  I get overwhelmed if the project is big.  This could lead to depression, so the easiest thing is not to start at all.

“It’s too hard.”  Not being one who likes a challenge, I prefer to take the easy route, especially if I would have to get out of my comfort zone.  When the going gets tough, I take a nap.

“It takes a special kind of knowledge and know-how that I don’t have.”  Sure I could actually learn something new, but my motto is:  I’m ignorant and proud of it.

“It’s too time-consuming.”  My time is so valuable that I don’t want to waste it doing anything too profitable.  It might keep me from the more important things like surfing the net, playing video games, or watching mindless TV.

“I might mess it up.”  If I don’t succeed at this, everyone will consider me a failure.  My logic is simple:  How can I fail, if I never do anything?

“I need to have some fun.”  A little escapism never hurt anyone.  I deserve a break today.  It will help me clear my head so I can start fresh.

“I need to relax.”  I’m so tense!  Perhaps I’ll read a little or listen to some music first.  Then I’ll get started.

“I’m lazy.”  I know this kind of negative self-talk is unhealthy, but there’s no arguing with the truth.  Actually, I love being lazy.  Some people get bored easily, but I never tire of doing nothing.

“A lion might kill me.”  I rely on this excuse heavily because it’s biblical.  Proverbs 22:13 (NLT) says the lazy person is full of excuses, saying, “If I go outside, I might meet a lion in the street and be killed!”  Well, I know I’m lazy, so I’d better lay low.

Procrastination is the one thing I’m really, really good at! However, just because we’re good at something doesn’t mean it’s good for us! We can be good at robbing banks, but eventually the law will catch up with us.  Procrastination catches up with us, too! Our time runs out – and time cannot be regained. Procrastination not only robs us of our time but also our money, our productivity, our families, our friendships, our sense of worth, and our relationship with God.

Procrastination can make us lazy. (Proverbs 13:4) Procrastination can keep us from putting first things first. (Matthew 6:33). Procrastination can keep us from moving forward. (Philippians 3:13-14) Procrastination can pull us away from God. (James 4:17)

Consider this… God says to use our time wisely. (Ephesians 5:16) We shouldn’t put off until tomorrow what should be done today, because tomorrow may never come. (Proverbs 27:1) Today, right now, this moment is what we’ve been given and we need to make the most of it.

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• Procrastination can start before you even get out of bed in the morning.  Why not start the day by saying a little prayer for God to help us use the day wisely and in ways that will glorify Him?
• Be realistic and not take on projects you know you don’t have time to do. Sometimes we have to learn to say no.
• There will always be more to accomplish than we have time to do, so learn to prioritize and get the most important things done first. Perhaps enroll in a time management class.
• Change your perspective and stay positive. Negative self-talk is not productive. Instead think of how far you have come, not how far you have to go.
• Stop whining and just do what you need to do!

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

Last time we discussed the importance of wisdom.   There is a fine line between wisdom and common sense. Wisdom is the ability to discern and judge what is good or true. However, common sense is good sense and sound judgment in practical matters. Common sense needs no specialized knowledge or training. It is just everyday stuff that people should know. That’s why they call it “common.”

However, the phrase “common sense” is almost a misnomer today, because it isn’t very common anymore.

The Bible says, “Folly is a joy to him who has no sense…” (Proverbs 15:21) I found one translation that used the word “wisdom” here, but the rest use “sense.”   In fact, the International Standard Version goes so far as to say, “Stupidity is the delight of the senseless.” I’m not saying those who lack common sense are stupid, but they certainly are irritating.

Some people don’t care if they hurt or inconvenience others because they are looking out for themselves.   In their minds they are the most important people in the world. They don’t really lack common sense; they are just rude and arrogant! However, those without common sense don’t even know what they are doing is inappropriate.

Here is a prime example… A few years ago my husband and I went to a movie in the middle of the day. I’m sure you know why – cheaper prices, less of a crowd, etc. Since this very large theater was empty, we got to sit in our favorite spot – right in the middle of the theater. Just before the movie started, a family of four came in, moseyed into the row ahead of us, and sat directly in front of us.   This was before stadium seating, so we would have to peer over and around their heads to see the show.   Five hundred seats to choose from and they pick the ones obstructing our view.   Apparently clueless, one of them looked back at us and said, “I hope this movie is good!”

We smiled. As the previews of coming attractions started to roll, my husband whispered, “Do you want to move?”

I responded quietly with, “Yes!   I want to move directly in front of them.”   But we didn’t. Wisdom dictated it would be better not to make an issue out of this, so we just moved four seats to the left.

Synonyms for the lack of common sense might be words like oblivious, unaware, dense, thick, unobservant, foolish, and clueless.   I hesitate to use the word stupid because some very academic, highly intelligent people can be clueless.

Consider this… We as Christians should not be oblivious, dense, foolish or clueless. We should be aware and observant. We should be attuned to those around us and concerned about what we do because it influences and affects others. It also impacts our own lives.

Common sense would have us ask a few questions before we do the simplest of tasks. If I do this, what will happen? Will it inconvenience others? Will it hurt me? Will it hurt others?

Those who lack common sense should definitely ask God for it. And those who have it should ask God for the wisdom and love to deal with those who don’t.

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• Ask God for common sense.
• Ask God for wisdom.
• Ask God to help you be attuned to those around you so you can look for ways to exercise common sense and wisdom.
• Ask God for the ability to deal with others in a loving way.
• Read this little obituary every once in a while…

The Death of Common Sense  
(Author Unknown)

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend named Common Sense who had been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valued lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn’t always fair, and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies such as don’t spend more than you earn and reliable parenting strategies like adults, not kids, are in charge. His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. He lost the will to live when churches became businesses and criminals started receiving better treatment than their victims. He gave up the ghost when he felt unappreciated and lonely because there was no one left he could identify with.  

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents Truth and Trust, his wife Discretion, his daughter Responsibility, and his son Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers named I Want It Now, Someone Else Is to Blame, and I’m a Victim, plus one sister called Ima Whiner. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.  

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

Solomon was considered the wisest man who ever lived and was the principle writer of the book of Proverbs, which tells us to get wisdom and understanding. (Proverbs 4:5) Why? Because wisdom and understanding are the keys to happiness. (Proverbs 3:13)

However, it also tells us that wisdom is slightly more important: “Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore, get wisdom!” (Proverbs 4:7) Wisdom is the ability to discern and judge what is good or true. Furthermore, it should lead to choosing a right course of action based on that judgement.

There are certain benefits to having wisdom. (Proverbs 24:13-14) In a way, wisdom is a little gift we give ourselves. (Proverbs 19:8) The Bible says it is more valuable than gold. (Proverbs 16:16)

So how do we get this fantastic gift? Well, we start by listening, hearing, and harkening to instruction. (Proverbs 8:32) So let’s listen, hear, and harken to a what the Bible has to say about wisdom. Here are some attributes of wise people. They…

Fear God (Proverbs 9:10): This does not mean they tremble in their boots at the thought that God could zap them into oblivion. Another meaning of the word “fear” is to have respect and awe. This is the beginning of wisdom. Wise people acknowledge God’s existence and His importance in their lives. They trust and depend on God for their needs. They realize that going against God’s instruction is the same as hurting themselves; they would be “wronging their own souls.” (Proverbs 8:33-36) Heeding what God says is for their own good.

Have Humility (Proverbs 11:2): Wise people are not “know-it-alls.” They are not proud and haughty. They have teachable spirits and a willingness to change and grow. They readily admit mistakes.

Read the Bible (Proverbs 4:11-13): Wise people “take hold of instruction.” (Proverbs 4:13) The Bible is full of spiritual instruction and the book of Proverbs has some dandy physical instruction as well. So wise people read the Scriptures and get to know Jesus intimately.

Implement God’s Teachings into Their Lives (Matthew 7:24): Reading the Bible is not enough; what we read must be implemented. Jesus said, “Whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them is like a wise man who builds his house upon a rock.” Our Rock is Jesus Christ.

Dig a Little Deeper (Colossians 1:9): Wisdom is great, but spiritual wisdom is even better. Spiritual wisdom comes from a deeper understanding of what God’s will is in our lives. Spiritually wise people are able to see beyond the physical into spiritual aspects of everything around them. They see God’s wisdom in simple things. (Psalms 19:7)

So once again I ask, how do we get this wisdom? We mentioned we get it by listening, hearing, and harkening, but in addition, we might try asking God for it. James says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God who gives generously… and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5)

Although Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, there is one wiser. His name is Jesus. Jesus spoke about the queen of the south coming to hear the wisdom of Solomon, then went on to say, “…and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.” (Matthew 12:42) He was referring to Himself. What an understatement!

Consider this… Jesus is the very wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24) And we who are in Christ Jesus have been given wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Stay close to Jesus. In Him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:3)

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• Pray for wisdom. (James 1:5)
• Study God’s Word and ask God to reveal the hidden treasures. (Colossians 2:3)
• Seek and heed godly counsel. (Proverbs 11:14; Proverbs 5:11-13)
• Associate with wise people. (Proverbs 13:20)
• Read the book of Proverbs and pay special attention to every time it uses the word “wise” or “wisdom.”

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

God is a God of joy.  The scriptures are full of exhortations to rejoice.  (Psalm 118:24; Philippians 4:4) But did you know that God likes to celebrate as well?  Celebrate means to observe a notable occasion with festivities.  God likes a little singing (Ephesians 5:29, James 5:13), a little dancing (Psalm 149:3; Ecclesiastes 3:4), a little shouting (Isaiah 12:6; Psalm 47:1), and a lot of laughter (Proverbs 17:22; Psalm 126:2).  Good times!

From the beginning it was so.  When God laid the foundations of the earth He looked around and said, “It is very good!”  Then the morning stars and sons of God shouted for joy!  (Job 38:7) Sounds like a celebration to me!

For the Old Testament Holy Days God told the people to save their money, buy what their hearts desired, share it with others, and rejoice!  (Deuteronomy 14:26) Sounds like a celebration to me!

After the wall of Jerusalem had been rebuilt everyone came together to dedicate it to the Lord.  There was gladness, thanksgiving, praises to God, plus singing with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps.  (Nehemiah 12:27-28) In fact, God had them rejoice with great joy, so much so that “the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.” (Nehemiah 12:43) Sounds like a celebration to me!

When David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord to the city of David, there was much shouting and the sound of the trumpet.  David was so excited he danced with all his might. (2 Samuel 6:14) Sounds like a celebration to me!

The biblical examples are endless.  When the prodigal son returned, his dad threw a big party.  (Luke 15:23-24) Jesus’ first miracle took place at a wedding. (John 2:1-8) And there is joy in heaven when one sinner repents. (Luke 15:7, 10) Sounds like a lot of celebrating to me!

God created us to enjoy life.  Celebrations are an important part of that enjoyment.  They give us a break from our routines.  We take pictures, send flowers, write cards, give gifts, have parades, shoot fireworks, throw parties, and eat cake.

Consider this… Celebrations can help us commemorate our past, appreciate the present and look forward to the future – and we who have Christ in our lives have much to celebrate!

I don’t think God takes pleasure in joyless Christians leading joyless lives.  I’m not saying we should all walk around with fake smiles on our faces pretending to be happy.  There are times for quietness and reflection, but God’s presence in our lives gives us much to celebrate.  God is the eternal joy giver.  If we aren’t doing some celebrating, we might not be as close to God as we should be.

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• Celebrate life!  Start each day by thanking God for your life!
• Celebrate friendships!  Give a friend an unexpected little gift because he/she is so special to you.
• Celebrate finished projects!  When you complete a daunting task, reward yourself.
• Celebrate thoughtfulness!  When someone does something especially thoughtful for you, send them a thank you note with a little token gift like a bookmark in it.
• Celebrate another’s happiness! A little card or email message to people on their birthdays, their anniversaries, when they get a promotion, when a baby is born, when a grandbaby is born, when they graduate,etc. can make their day!

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

Christians can be some of the biggest fuddy-duddies around.  That may seem like an old-fashioned word, but what would you call a boring, humorless, crabby person with no imagination?  The Urban Dictionary says it’s a fuddy-duddy.  Is this the kind of image we as Christians portray to others?

Some Christians don’t seem to be able to smile, laugh, or have a good time.  They lack a certain enthusiasm for life.  The word enthusiasm is derived from the Greek roots en, meaning in or within, and theos which means God.  The original meaning was having God within us.  Just thinking about God living in us should make us a little enthusiastic. Yet many Christians are afraid to enjoy life.

It reminds me of the man who had his annual physical check-up and the doctor told him, “There’s no reason why you can’t live a completely normal life, as long as you don’t enjoy it.”  We think God says, “There’s no reason you can’t live a totally committed Christian life, as long as you don’t enjoy it.”

C.S. Lewis said that most Christians lack “merriment.”

William Barclay said, “A gloomy Christian is a contradiction in terms.”

Billy Sunday once said, “The trouble with Christians is that they have just enough religion to make them miserable.”

Where does this Christian “downer” attitude come from?  Certainly not from God.  We miss a lot by keeping God locked in a box of our preconceived ideas of righteousness.  Ask yourself the following questions:

Does God like it when we laugh?  I think so… Look at creation: duck-billed platypuses and long-necked giraffes. Way before cartoons, God made Balaam’s donkey speak. Why would God tell us a merry heart is good medicine if he didn’t want us to be merry?  (Proverbs 17:22)

Does Jesus like it when we party?  I think so… Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine at a wedding party.  (John 2:1-11) We can debate all day long about whether it was wine or grape juice – I have my personal opinion – but the point is it happened at a party and the intent was to keep that party moving. Of course God is not pleased with drunkenness, lewdness, or vulgarity, but shouldn’t we as Christians be able to show the world that people can have a good time without those things?

Does God enjoy our company?  I think so… Psalm 149:4 says God delights in his people. Delight doesn’t mean tolerate; it means He enjoys us.

Does God like dancing? I think so…The Bible is full of scriptures of God turning mourning into dancing and people praising God with dance. David danced before the Lord with all his might. (2 Samuel 6:14)

Does God like it when we shout for joy? I think so… There are plenty of scriptures that tell us to do that.  Just like there are plenty of scriptures that tell us God likes it when we praise, worship, and thank him.

Does God like it when we celebrate? I think so… Every time something good happened in the Bible there seemed to be some sort of celebration.  In a way, each new day is a time for celebration.  Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Well, guess what? Every day is the day the Lord has made. If we wake up breathing, we might want to rejoice!

Does God want us to enjoy life? I think so… 1 Timothy 6:17 tells us God provides for our enjoyment.

Consider this… There will always be people criticizing us for being Christians and actually enjoying life.  After all, they criticized Jesus.  Matthew 11:19 said that Jesus came eating and drinking. So much so that some said He was a glutton and a drunkard. They were wrong, of course.  Did Jesus stop enjoying life because of this criticism?  I don’t think so!

If we aren’t enjoying the Christian life, perhaps we don’t know God well enough.  Psalm 16:11 says that in God’s presence there is fullness of joy.  I can’t help but think that those who live and move and have their being in Christ, will be enjoying life.  (Acts 17:28)

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• Lighten up!
• Smile!
• Laugh!
• Don’t isolate yourself!
• Thank God for your blessings and don’t feel guilty about enjoying them!

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

Some of us love to sing.  When we’re alone in our Honda Civics we crank that music up loud, sing to the top of our lungs, bob our heads to the rhythm and “shake it off, shake it off” like we’re at a Taylor Swift concert.  Then we make eye contact with the person in the BMW next to us and get all embarrassed.  Well… I’d rather sing and get caught than not to sing at all.

Okay, so you can’t carry a tune and singing’s not your thing, but you can still make a joyful noise. (Psalm 100:1) Psalm 98:4 says, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth…”  It even says, “…make a loud noise and rejoice and sing praise.”

Music and/or singing is mentioned over 800 times in the Bible.  The Psalms teach us that music was used to offer thanks, to praise and to worship God, but it was used for other purposes as well.  It was used to…

• Soothe the soul (1 Samuel 16:23)
• Stir up the gift of prophesy (2 Kings 3:15)
• Inspire (2 Chronicles 20:21-22)
• Celebrate (Ezra 3:11)
• Express love (Song of Solomon 1-8)
• Teach God”s Word (Colossians 3:16)
• Release power of God (Acts 16:25-26)
• Etch the mighty power of God in our memories (Exodus 15:1)
• And much more

Yes, music is powerful!  Today, studies show that music can…

• Affect your mood
• Alter buying habits
• Make you work more efficiently
• Relieve pain
• Reduce stress
• Increase stress
• Affect your eating habits
• Enhance athletic performance
• Teach children
• Help stroke patients regain speech
• Decrease stuttering
• And much more

God created music and it is good. While it’s true that man has polluted the good things God created, it doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy music the way God intended.  Every song we listen to doesn’t need to have religious overtones, but we would be better off staying away from music that incites conflict or promotes negative feelings.  We know those attitudes do not come from God.  Music can reflect moods, but it can influence moods as well.  So we should think about what we listen to.

Consider this… God sings!  Zephaniah 3:7 tells us God rejoices over us with singing.  I don’t know if God breaks out in song when He thinks about us, just like in a musical, but I love how the Living Bible paraphrases this verse. It says, “Is that a joyous choir I hear?  No, it is the Lord himself exulting over you in happy song.”

What about us?  When we think about God do we sing a happy song.  Perhaps we should.  And when we do, there’s nothing wrong with pumping up the volume once in a while – especially if we can’t carry a tune.

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• Don’t judge others based on their music preferences.
• Don’t presume God likes what you like and dislikes what you dislike when it comes to music.  In other words, don’t set up your standards as God’s standards.  There is nothing wrong with having likes and dislikes, but remember that even God enjoys a “loud” song once in a while. (Psalm 98:4)
• Don’t assume God likes the old hymns more than the new contemporary worship songs.  There is nothing wrong with singing old hymns, but there is nothing wrong with singing a new song or even an old song in a new way.  (Psalm 98:1)
• Try to appreciate all types of music.  Remember that appreciating something is not the same as liking it.  If we can’t truly appreciate all types of music, at least we can be tolerant.  The message being conveyed is more important that the style.
• Think outside the box.  That’s what I love about the Go Fish Guys.  Sure their music is intended for kids but when I’m feeling a little low I pop one of their CDs in and listen to something like their Ten Commandment Boogie.  Pretty soon I turn up the volume, sing along and bop until I drop – and guess what?  I imagine that God is singing and dancing with me.

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

Those who sing, “Give me that old time religion; it’s good enough for me…” may not know what they are asking for.

Exactly what is religion?  Dictionaries define it as belief in a god, group of gods or the supernatural.  It can include service, worship, practices, traditions, rules, and observances.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t include a relationship with the living God.

Some pacify their need for religion by going to church once a week, wearing a cross around the neck, putting a fish emblem on a car, carrying a “Prayer of Jabez” key chain, or saying, “God bless you!” when someone sneezes.  These are not bad things to do, but if that’s all Christians rely on, they are missing the mark.  That’s what happened to the Pharisees – they missed the mark.

Jesus had a great deal of patience towards sinners.  He healed them, ate with them, extended them kindness and compassion.  However, He was not fond of the Pharisees – the religious leaders of the time who religiously kept religious laws, traditions, and observances.  They even added a few of their own to make themselves even more religious in the eyes of others.  Their over zealousness did not endear them to Christ.  In fact, it repulsed Him.  He called them vipers, evil, hypocrites, sons of the devil, blind and a few other things we don’t have time or space to explore. (Matthew 23)

You see, God is not looking for religion; He’s looking for relationship.

God created us as relational beings.  Humans long to connect with others.  We want people to understand us, empathize with us, share our joy, feel our pain, and so on.  For this to happen we must open ourselves up to others.  We talk; they talk.  We listen; they listen.  It takes a little time, but well worth the effort.

Well, God is relational as well.  He longs for a relationship with us, but He will not force it on us.  He will beckon or encourage us to come to Him.  He will make himself available.  He will love us.  He will stand at the door and knock, but He won’t come in and fellowship with us unless He is invited. (Revelation 3:20) He initiates, but we must respond on our own.

Some talk about “building a relationship” with God and while I think there is some merit to that phrase, it does make me think of hard labor.  Therefore, I’ve been leaning more towards words like interaction and participation in regards to a relationship with God.

Consider this… Jesus is the same – yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) He is always near, ready and willing to connect with us.  We don’t have to build a high tower to be closer to Him.  We just need to reach out and He’s there.

How do we reach out?  We reach out through communication, which is a give and take process.  We talk and He listens.  He talks and we listen.

There is a fancy name for talking with God.  It’s called prayer.  The purpose of prayer is to spend time with God, communicating with Him. We tell him how we feel from the heart.  Since we don’t always feel the same way, our talks will vary.  Sometimes we might be angry or frightened. Sometimes we might be elated and joyful.  Sometimes we are anxious and worried.  Sometimes we are overwhelmed by God’s goodness and full of praise.  And we should always be able to find something to be thankful for.  We talk to God just like we would talk to our most intimate friend – from the heart and often.

So how does God talk to us?  God spoke to Moses through a burning bush, but I wouldn’t wait for that to happen today.  If we ask God to interact with us, He will probably do it through what we come in contact with in our daily routine – maybe through a Bible scripture, a sunset, a child’s smile, a co-worker’s off handed comment, a friend’s concern, a quote we read in a book, or various circumstances.  It may come in the form of comfort, wisdom, or even correction.  Since we are not all alike, God communicates with each of us differently.  However, we must be receptive if we want to hear what God is saying. So our thoughts need to be on Him throughout the day.

My advice is to forget that old time religion.  It’s not good enough for me and it’s not good enough for you because God did not create us for religion.  God created us for relationship.

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• Say this to yourself throughout the day: “God is not mad at me.  God loves me.”  God may not like everything you do but He will never stop loving you.
• Say this to yourself throughout the day: “God is not impressed with my works; God wants my heart.”  Stop trying to work your way into heaven by adhering to a self-imposed list of dos and don’ts to make you feel more “religious.”
• Say this to yourself throughout the day: “God is interested in everything I do.” Actually, God and your mother are probably the only ones who are interested in everything you do.  And to be honest – you can’t always count on mom.  She might just be feigning interest.
• Say this to yourself throughout the day: “As I draw near to God, He draws near to me.” (James 4:8)
• Say this to yourself throughout the day: “Lord, I desperately want a relationship with you.  Help me be attuned to your presence all around me.”

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

Christ’s crucifixion and death showed God’s unconditional love for us.  Although painful and agonizing, Christ died willingly for our sins.  Because of this we are forgiven and no longer condemned.  And while that is great news, without Christ’s resurrection, what he did for us would be null and void.  Christ was delivered to death for our sins, but raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:23,24) In other words His death paid for our sins, but His resurrected life is the proof or the receipt for that payment.  Jesus came to earth, died for us, and rose from the dead.  Jesus lives! This truth validates Christ and it validates us.

The resurrection validates Christ because what He said would happen did happen.  Jesus knew He was going to be betrayed, condemned, mocked, beaten and die, but He also knew and told His disciples that He would be raised to life again. (Matthew 20:18-20) And it took place just the way Jesus said it would.  This is good news for us on so many levels, one being that we can trust everything Christ tells us.

The resurrection also validates our faith in Christ.  Without the resurrection our faith is in vain and futile. (1 Corinthians 15:14-17) If Christ has not risen, we have not been forgiven of our sins.  We are dependent on a wicked world.  If we don’t believe Christ lives, we have no hope.  So we must believe without a doubt that Christ is the resurrection and life He professed to be.

Christ’s resurrection not only declares that Jesus lives and He is Lord, but it celebrates the victory of life over death.  Jesus conquered what no one could – death!  Christ’s resurrection erased all doubt in anyone’s mind.  Death can no longer hold us in bondage.  “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55) Death has no victory.  Christ has the victory.

Christ’s victory over death is our victory, too. (1 Corinthians 15:57) Because Christ lives, we can live also. (Romans 6:8, 9) We who believe in him will live – even though we might die, we will live again. (John 11:25-26)

Consider this… The fact that Jesus lives is a truth and does not depend on our perceptions or how we feel.  Jesus is actually present with us whether we realize it or not – whether we want to believe it or not.  The only one who benefits from believing Christ lives is us!  John 5:24 tells us.  “He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”  This has nothing to do with living a good life or earning salvation.  It comes from believing and trusting God.

Believe that Jesus lives. He is our only hope!

Suggestions for practicing this choice. 

• Remind yourself often that Jesus lives.  Once Martin Luther was found in a moment of peril and fear, when he needed to grasp unseen strength.  There he was, sitting in an abstracted mood, and tracing on the table with his finger the words, “Vivit! Vivit!” – “He lives!  He lives!” (From Streams in the Desert Devotional, January 17)
• Ask God to help your unbelief when doubts arise. (Mark 9:24) Some disciples doubted the resurrection, but Jesus came to them to calm their doubts. (Matthew 28:17-18) Remember, it is never too late to believe!
• Repeat this often:  Jesus lives and He is with me always! (Matthew 28:20)
• Don’t be afraid to embrace the true meaning of Easter.  It reminds us of what we sometimes forget the rest of the year.  Christ is risen and lives!
• Listen to this Youtube song by the Gaithers…Because He Lives.  It has a powerful message.

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren 

So many people live in the past and constantly lament what might have been.  They spend all their time focusing on things they can do nothing about.

They obsess over things like…if only I had married the geek I thought was a loser in college who became a millionaire.  If only I had taken that job with the start-up company I thought would go nowhere but went sky high.  If only I hadn’t gotten pregnant at sixteen.  If only I had finished college instead of dropping out.  If only I hadn’t gotten drunk and had a tattoo of a naked lady put on my arm.  If only, if only, if only…

Everyone’s life is full of missed opportunities, some unwise decisions, and regret.  These things cannot be changed.  It is better to accept and learn from them and move on.  Yet many seem held captive by things they can do nothing about.

Others put their lives on hold waiting for the future.  Yes, we look toward the future but we live today.  God lives in the present.  His name is “I am” not “I was” or “I will be” or “I might have been.”  This walk with God is a day by day journey and we miss much when we don’t focus on what God has in mind for us today.

Consider this…God doesn’t supply tomorrow’s needs today.  The Israelites found that out when they tried to store up manna for another day. (Exodus 16)  There is nothing wrong in planning for the future but God supplies our needs on a daily basis.  We pray “give us today our daily bread.”  Matthew 6:30-34 tells us not to worry about tomorrow.  God’s got that covered.

Instead of lamenting the past or worrying about tomorrow, Matthew 6:33 shows us where our focus should be: “But seek first the kingdom of God…”  You see, our job is to seek God, participate in a relationship with Him, be alert and attuned to His presence all around us – on a daily basis.  We need to concentrate on what God is doing with us today.  That’s our priority – and we can’t do it when we are constantly living in the past or waiting for the future.

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• Read a few Bible verses each day and think of how they can be applied in your life today.
• Ask God to help align your will to His and to make His desires your desires.
• Be attuned to God’s creation all around you – a sunrise, a sunset, the rain, the flowers, the birds, the trees, the mountains, the river, the butterfly, a child’s laughter – whatever you see, hear, smell, or touch can relate to your Creator in some way.
• Pray many times throughout the day. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Pray big prayers and lots of little prayers – little prayers of praise, thanks, and requests for immediate help keep your focus on Jesus. (Hebrews 12:2)
• Guard your thoughts by meditating all day long about God’s Word, biblical principles, and how Christ would handle situations. (Psalm 1:2, Joshua 1:8)

Another Year of Choices

By Barbara Dahlgren

Most Christians want to serve but don’t know how to avoid spiritual burnout in the process.  To be honest, I’m not sure I know how to avoid it either.  At one time or another we all try to “work” our way to righteousness on the spiritual treadmill, desiring to reach some lofty vision we see as the ultimate Christian experience.  We don’t want to become modern day Pharisees, but these “work” oriented goals do tend to make us feel just a little superior to others.  Keeping a mental list of what we need to do to attain righteousness leaves us living more under law than grace.  If we fall into the personal performance trap, it won’t be long before we run out of steam.  Performing godly tasks on our own strength instead of God’s can lead to burn out.   God’s flame is eternal and never burns out.  Our feeble flame can definitely burn out.

Depression, stress and burnout can have overlapping symptoms but actually fall into three different categories.  Depression is usually linked to a loss and a person’s lethargic inability to face life. Stress produces hyper-activity, emotions become over reactive, and the person literally wears out and gets exhausted.  But with burnout, there is a lack of motivation and drive – not because of a weakened, physical condition but because the will to do anything is gone.  Ideals and hope are lost.  There is no excitement about life.  The joy in the journey is gone.  In other words, “What’s the use?”

Can good, serving Christians suffer burnout?  You better believe it!  Burnout can be the result of too much service for the wrong motivation.  So we must ask ourselves why we do what we do.

Are we trying to impress others?  Many try to please others, seeking approval and fearing criticism.  Therefore, they have trouble evaluating where their time is best spent or setting up boundaries.  They can’t say “no” to others.  When their efforts don’t reap the results they hoped, they get disheartened and discouraged.  When they can’t live up to their own expectations or the expectations of others they feel like failures.  However, these are not God’s expectations.

Are we serving in an area that brings us joy?  When we minister in areas that match our gifts and talents, we can feel as if we are meant to do this.  Some are perfectly happy there, but others get tired of doing the same old thing and may decide to try another area of service – some new endeavor they feel excited about – something they want to learn.  They hesitate, fearing others will not be supportive, so they don’t move on.  Or worse, people guilt them into thinking if they don’t do it, no one will.  However, God does not want us to serve out of guilt, but joy.

Are we working for God’s glory?   We should be working for God’s glory – not ours – not just for the good of others.  We cannot be the spiritual nourishment for others.  Needy people can drain us dry.  While it might be fine to let someone lean on us for a short time, the ultimate goal is to get them to lean on God.  We can’t do this for them.  And if we are trying to do it for them, we are not doing it for God’s glory.  We’ll be doing it on our own strength or steam.  It’s better to rely on God’s strength and teach others to do the same.

Consider this… We can spend a lot of time and effort doing things for God he does not require us to do.  Workaholic Christians rarely find time for the most important priority – relationship with the living God.  Once a relationship develops, the motive of service becomes love, not obligation.  It’s not how much we do that counts; it’s why we do what we do.  We need to keep our eyes focused on Jesus. (Hebrews 12:2) Our lives need to be God centered, not work oriented.  Remember… our flames are feeble, but God’s flame is eternal and never burns out.

Suggestions for practicing this choice…

• Spend time with God daily.
• Ask God to renew spiritual excitement in your life and guide you to areas of service that will bring you joy.
• Learn to say “I’ll pray about that” when someone asks you to do something.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to equip or empower you to do what God would have you do
• Let God give you rest.  (Matthew 11:28-30)